Schwartz snares NAADA Summer Series final

YONKERS, N.Y.— Alan Schwartz vaulted out of a pocket ride with Doo Wop Kid and skipped away to a 2:01.3 victory in the $20,000 North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) Summer Series Final on Thursday night (Sept. 4) at Yonkers Raceway.

Los Ballykeelamigo (driven by Bob Krivelin), the 7-5 favorite, thrusted out of post 5 for the top while Schwartz pushed from the pylon post with Doo Wop Kid (Wishing Stone) to secure the pocket. Krivelin then reined back the tempo towards a :31.2 first quarter, where Star Hairdresser (Andrew Adamczyk) made a break when in tight quarters behind Doo Wop Kid. The backfield slid off the pylons from the slow clip and the field clumped on the approach to a 1:02.4 half. Los Ballykeelamigo meanwhile held a comfortable lead heading for the backstretch.

Off dawdling early fractions, Los Ballykeelamigo booked it up the backside to clock three-quarters in 1:31.2 while peeling three lengths clear of Doo Wop Kid. Schwartz began building momentum with his charge through the turn and gradually reeled in Los Ballykeelamigo coming towards the top of the stretch. Doo Wop Kid then zipped by the longtime leader in the lane and strolled clear to a 3-1/4-length victory. Los Ballykeelamigo, while finishing second, was placed behind Star Hairdresser in eighth for causing interference to the first quarter from a slow tempo. Backstreet Player (Joe Pennacchio) inherited the second spot with Muskingum (Yogi Sheridan) claiming third and Psalmsfortysixfive (Scott Keppler) taking fourth.

Alan Schwartz owns and trains Doo Wop Kid, a 6-year-old gelding by Wishing Stone. He paid $7.50 to win.

NAADA action restarts with the opening preliminary of the club’s Fall Trotting Series next Thursday (Sept. 11) at Yonkers Raceway. First-race post time at Yonkers is 6:45 p.m. (EDT).

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Ray Cotolo, for the NAADA